Tuatapere sits on the edge of Fiordland's wilderness amid spectacular unspoilt scenery and lush rolling farmland. The town is within reach of world-class jet boating and hiking.
The Waiau River flows through the town before reaching Te Waewae Bay, where Hector’s dolphins and whales are often seen basking. Lying on the Southern Scenic Route, it is an increasingly well-travelled place to stop.
Tuatapere has a rich sawmilling history and is home to a logging museum, along with many other quaint reminders of the town’s pioneering history.
Tuatapere is an ideal base for many wilderness activities such as hiking, fishing, whitebaiting, hunting and jet boating. The majestic expanses of Blue Cliffs Beach and vistas of Te Waewae Bay lie just beyond the town.
If adventure sport is your thing then unleash the adrenalin on a jet boat ride down the Wairaurahiri River and across New Zealand’s deepest Lake Hauroko with Wairaurahiri Jet and Humpridge Jet. Or see stunning Fiordland from the sky with a combined helicopter and jet boat tour.
Many visitors come here to walk the 3-day Hump Ridge Track. Beginning at the western end of Te Waewae Bay, the track promises wide-ranging views of Western Southland and the chance to see the Percy Burn Viaduct – thought to be the largest remaining wooden viaduct in the world.
